Threat principle

Principle

How it works

A threat works by attacking a deep
needs. Needs are so fundamental that, when they are threatened, we forget
our higher aspirations and quickly act to protect ourselves.

Threats may include that of physical punishment, but more usually they are
cognitive and social in nature. One of the biggest such threats is that of
social exclusion, which affects our
belonging needs.

In particular, threats act on our sense of
control, as the person doing the
threatening is effectively taking control of our lives and preventing us from
controlling our own destiny.

Behavioral change

Threats do not change minds, but they are often very effective at changing
how people act, at least in the short term.

Threats are used at least by the criminal classes and those who lack the
finer subtleties, as an effective method of coercion. If your or your family may
be harmed, then you will go to great lengths to protect them.

Threats are also surprisingly common in such as family situations. Parents
who are tired or stressed and want children to 'behave' will use many variants
on the threat. Children of course learn this behavior and use it back with
parents and also with peers and other people. And so it goes on.

The backlash

The problems with threats is that is can cause a tremendous backlash in terms
of the anger and other negative
emotions that are aroused.
Where a trust is
betrayed, such as when a confidence is used against a person, their anger
and hate can be very significant.

So what?

You can use threats to cause short-term behavioral change, but be very aware
that it can have a significant negative effect, including a long-term need for
vengeance and subtle acts of revenge.